Hidden Forces Podcast

Episode: Trump's New Strategy for Latin America: Venezuela, Cuba, & the 'Donroe Doctrine'

Host: Demetri Kofinas (with Grant Williams)
Guest: Brian Winter, Editor in Chief of Americas Quarterly
Date: January 9, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode explores the dramatic recent changes in US–Latin America relations following the Trump administration’s forceful removal of Nicolás Maduro from power in Venezuela. Hosts Demetri Kofinas and Grant Williams are joined by Latin America expert Brian Winter to dissect the strategic, economic, and ideological ripples spreading throughout the region. They address the so-called "Donroe Doctrine," the rise of right-wing movements, the resurgence of US assertiveness, implications for Cuba, and the outsized influence of figures like Marco Rubio. The conversation blends geopolitical analysis, regional context, and speculation on where Latin America is headed amid global power realignment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The "Cinematic" Ouster of Nicolás Maduro

• Timestamps: Intro through 08:20
• The hosts and Brian Winter open by analyzing the unprecedented US-led operation that deposed Maduro, referring to it as “almost cinematic” in scope and execution.
• Brian Winter: “What we saw was something I haven’t witnessed in two decades of covering the region—both the speed and decisiveness with which Maduro was removed, which caught not just Venezuela, but much of Latin America and the world flat-footed.” (05:51)

2. Power Vacuum and New Leadership in Venezuela

• Discussion shifts to who is now actually running Venezuela amid a rapidly evolving power vacuum.
• Grant Williams: “Brian, do you have a sense of who’s truly holding the levers right now? Is it still the military, or has someone new stepped to the fore?” (09:22)
• Winter notes that interim arrangements appear fragile, with US-backed technocrats working alongside military remnants, while citing uncertainty over long-term stability.

3. Regional Geopolitics and the ‘Donroe Doctrine’

• Timestamps: 13:10–21:40
• The hosts introduce and debate the Trump administration’s newly articulated ‘Donroe Doctrine’—a clear, hardline policy with echoes of past US interventionism but modernized for the age of multipolar rivalry.
• Demetri Kofinas: “This Doctrine feels like a shot across the bow—not just of Venezuela or Cuba, but to outside actors like China and Russia. Is this a revived Monroe Doctrine, or something fundamentally new?” (14:02)
• Winter explains that this approach combines ideological confrontation (anti-socialist), economic rollback of adversaries, and a willingness to use hybrid tactics well beyond traditional diplomacy.

4. The Domino Effect: Right-Wing Movements Across Latin America

• Analysis of how the removal of Maduro is energizing right-wing leaders and opposition groups from Brazil to Argentina.
• Winter highlights specific populist candidates citing the Venezuela operation as a template for “restoring order” at home.
• Brian Winter: “It’s a signal: the US will back forceful leadership willing to take on entrenched interests, and it’s emboldened actors who were on the defensive as recently as two years ago.” (18:37)

5. Organized Crime, Political Change & Artificial Intelligence

• Timestamps: 23:30–30:10
• The conversation turns to the complex, sometimes symbiotic relationship between organized crime, political factions, and outside influence—especially with AI-driven disinformation shaping political narratives.
• Grant Williams: “How much of this political churn is truly ideological, and how much is being driven by narco interests and digital misinformation?” (25:12)
• Winter warns that the vacuum of central authority in Venezuela and elsewhere allows criminal syndicates and foreign actors to vie for power, amplified by algorithmic chaos.

6. Demographics, Migration & the Future of the Region

• Timestamps: 31:00–36:45
• Explores how the region’s youthful population and continued urbanization will intersect with instability and the US’s evolving strategy—especially as waves of Venezuelan refugees impact neighbors.
• Brian Winter: “Latin America’s demographics remain a wild card—ripe for both explosive growth and increased volatility, depending on what kind of leadership emerges out of this chaos.” (33:22)

7. Marco Rubio’s Outsized Role in US Foreign Policy

• Timestamps: 37:00–41:50
• Discussion of how National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has aggressively shaped and sold the administration’s Latin America policy.
• Demetri Kofinas: “Rubio’s fingerprints are all over this—not just in tone, but in the meticulous selection of targets and messaging. Is this the Rubio Doctrine by any other name?” (38:05)
• Winter credits Rubio for fusing domestic Florida politics with grand strategy, leveraging his personal heritage and relationships.

8. Is Cuba Next?

• Timestamps: 43:00–47:40
• The trio speculates whether Cuba’s communist government is now in the administration’s crosshairs, echoing signs of increased covert action and diplomatic pressure.
• Brian Winter: “Let’s just say, the Cubans have never been more nervous. The old playbook of outlasting US pressure may not work this time.” (45:26)

Memorable Quotes

• “What we saw was something I haven’t witnessed in two decades of covering the region—both the speed and decisiveness with which Maduro was removed, which caught not just Venezuela, but much of Latin America and the world flat-footed.”
  — Brian Winter (05:51)
• “This Doctrine feels like a shot across the bow—not just of Venezuela or Cuba, but to outside actors like China and Russia. Is this a revived Monroe Doctrine, or something fundamentally new?”
  — Demetri Kofinas (14:02)
• “It’s a signal: the US will back forceful leadership willing to take on entrenched interests, and it’s emboldened actors who were on the defensive as recently as two years ago.”
  — Brian Winter (18:37)
• “Rubio’s fingerprints are all over this—not just in tone, but in the meticulous selection of targets and messaging. Is this the Rubio Doctrine by any other name?”
  — Demetri Kofinas (38:05)
• “Let’s just say, the Cubans have never been more nervous. The old playbook of outlasting US pressure may not work this time.”
  — Brian Winter (45:26)

Takeaways

• The Trump administration’s audacious fall of Maduro marks a profound reordering of regional geopolitics, emboldening right-wing elements and unsettling adversarial regimes like Cuba.
• The ‘Donroe Doctrine’ signals a sharpened, interventionist US posture tailored for a new era of global rivalry.
• The blend of AI-powered disinformation, demographic uncertainties, and the rise of strongman tactics raises both hope and fear for the region’s future.
• Marco Rubio’s leadership has been pivotal, merging domestic and international priorities.
• The situation remains fluid, with the potential for further US interventions—especially in Cuba—looming large.

This summary captures the substance, tone, and flow of an episode essential for anyone seeking to understand the new era of US–Latin America relations.